Does Canada call relatives of the person being sponsored?

[infohound]

I am American my spouse is Canadian. Has anyone experienced Canada calling any of their non-Canadian relatives and asking questions about you?

 

[amikety]

I haven't heard about it. It would terrify me. What a way for my dad to find out I'm married. EEEEK!

(I told CIC my family didn't know when I explained why they weren't at the wedding..... but for CIC 2+2 sometimes equals 9...)

 

[tyldim]

Not to my knowledge, but with them, you never know....SCAREY!!

 

[Bargeld]

I don't see why they couldn't, immigration is a serious matter (which is why you and your sponsor are subject to criminal backgrounds and the burden of proof surrounding how bona fide the relationship is), and if you gave them the info, or if they obtained it legally, it's certainly within the realm of reasonable for them to follow-up with questions if they have any concerns.

No one in my family was contacted, nor have I read about anyone during our process nor since then about them contacting family, so if they do it, it doesn't seem like a common occurrence. I really wouldn't worry about that, just be honest, put in the correct information, provide substantial proof, and you should be fine.

 

[Luckyman]

well....if that would sway a VO the right way when they are on the fence about something....I'm all for it.
It could help prevent an interview or more time consuming matters.

Geeze...I should have gave my entire phonebook as part of proofs..hehe

 

[ortom]

lol how does that work for you? Didnt cic get suspicious or anything? My husband hasn't met my family, they have only talked on skype, which cic doesnt care about.

I haven't heard about it. It would terrify me. What a way for my dad to find out I'm married. EEEEK!

(I told CIC my family didn't know when I explained why they weren't at the wedding..... but for CIC 2+2 sometimes equals 9...)

 

[amikety]

lol how does that work for you? Didnt cic get suspicious or anything? My husband hasn't met my family, they have only talked on skype, which cic doesnt care about.

No idea yet. I don't really have a relationship with any of my family for my own mental health. I told CIC I haven't seen most of my family since 2003, haven't spoken to my mother since 2005, and have no plans to see my family again in the future. The only family I do speak with occasionally are my brothers and my sister-in-law and that's entirely email or FB and very spaced out. CIC can interpret it how they want. My husband and I live together, have a joint bank account, cell phones, and we visit his family. I included our FB wall-to-wall showing mutual friends which included his father, sister, and nephew.

Hopefully CIC just sees me for the weirdo I am.

 

[ortom]

Makes sense. I'm sure they'll understand your situation.

No idea yet. I don't really have a relationship with any of my family for my own mental health. I told CIC I haven't seen most of my family since 2003, haven't spoken to my mother since 2005, and have no plans to see my family again in the future. The only family I do speak with occasionally are my brothers and my sister-in-law and that's entirely email or FB and very spaced out. CIC can interpret it how they want. My husband and I live together, have a joint bank account, cell phones, and we visit his family. I included our FB wall-to-wall showing mutual friends which included his father, sister, and nephew.

Hopefully CIC just sees me for the weirdo I am.

 

[canadianwoman]

They can call relatives, but it is very unusual. I've seen a few appeal cases where the visa officer phoned relatives to verify info; there have also been some where the visa officer actually went to the applicant's home to check things out.
This isn't necessarily bad. One friend of my husband married a woman from New Zealand, and she sponsored him there. He had a long interview, as did she, and the visa officers were very suspicious, for a number of reasons, one being that the man could not speak English and the woman couldn't speak anything but English. They communicated in broken English, but the visa officers could not understand him at the interview. Two of them visited their apartment in the city we were all living, without warning. The clincher I think was that the woman's 2-year-old child called the man 'daddy' and was obviously devoted to him. He got his PR visa.